Clamping apparatus with positioning function

ABSTRACT

An exemplary clamping apparatus includes a first elongated guide member, a first clamping member, a second clamping member, and a first drive assembly. The first and the second clamping member each moveably attached to the guide member. The first drive assembly includes a motor, a first gear, a second gear meshed to the first gear, a first drive member and a second drive member. The first drive member transmits power from the motor to the first clamping member. The second drive member transmits power from the motor to the second clamping member through the first and second gears. The first and the second drive members are configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to clamping apparatuses and, particularly, to a clamping apparatus with positioning function useable for clamping flat panel display substrates.

2. Description of Related Art

Flat panel displays (FPD) including liquid crystal displays (LCD), plasma display panels (PDP), and organic electroluminescent (OEL) displays are widely used because of being lighter and much thinner than traditional television and video displays that use cathode ray tubes (CRT). A flat panel display substrate is a fundamental element of a flat panel display.

One aspect of manufacturing the flat panel display substrate is clamping and positioning the substrate. FIG. 7 illustrates clamping pins of a typical clamping apparatus. The clamping apparatus uses two first clamping pins 3 and two second clamping pins 5 to clamp a substrate 7 at two sides thereof. The first and the second clamping pins 3, 5 generally are driven by two individual mechanisms (not shown) coupled to actuators. However, the clamping apparatus including the two individual mechanisms generally has a very complicated structure. In addition, there exist difficulties for driving the first and the second clamping pins 3, 5 synchronously by the two individual mechanisms. Thus the substrate 7 may not be properly clamped at each predetermined position.

What is needed, therefore, is a clamping apparatus with positioning function which can overcome the limitations described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary clamping apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a clamping apparatus, in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial and amplified view illustrating a first clamping member of the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a clamping apparatus, in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating a second guide member associated with a third clamping member and a fourth clamping member, as well as a second drive assembly of the clamping apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial and amplified view illustrating a fourth clamping member of the clamping apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an assembly line conveyor with the clamping apparatus of FIG. 3 in clamping and positioning a substrate.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of clamping pins of a typical clamping apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a clamping apparatus 100, in accordance with a first embodiment is shown. The clamping apparatus 100 includes a first elongated guide member 11, a first clamping member 12 and a second clamping member 13 each moveably attached to the guide member 11, and a first drive assembly 16 for driving the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 to move towards or away from one another.

The first elongated guide member 11 includes a first end portion 110 and a second end portion 112 at opposite sides thereof. In the first embodiment, the guide member 11 includes an elongated rail 113.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 are generally similar to one another. Thus, for the purpose of brevity, only the first clamping member 12 is described herein with the understanding that like reference numbers refer to like parts in the second clamping member 13. The first clamping member 12 includes a bracket 120 and at least one clamping pin 122 arranged on the bracket 120. The bracket 120 includes a sliding portion 120 a engaged with the guide member 11, a stage 120 b, and a fixing portion 120 c. The stage 120 b and a fixing portion 120 c are both attached to the sliding portion 120 a. The sliding portion 120 a has a groove 1200 receiving the rail 113. Thereby the first clamping member 12 is slidably attached to the guide member 11. As illustrated in FIG. 2, two parallel clamping pins 122 are provided as part of the first clamping member 12. The clamping pins 122 are arranged on a supporting plate 126, and attached to the stage 120 b through the supporting plate 126. The supporting plate 126 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the guide member 11, thus allowing more than two clamping pins 122 to be arranged thereon.

The first drive assembly 16 includes a motor 161, a first drive member 162 a, a second drive member 162 b, and a pair of gears 163 in engagement with one another. The motor 161 is attached to the guide member 11 through a frame 114 fixed to the guide member 11. The first drive member 162 a is coupled to the motor 161 and the first clamping member 12. The second drive member 162 b is coupled to the motor 161 and the second clamping member 13. The first drive member 162 a moves the first clamping member 12 along the guide member 11 to position the clamping pins 122 thereof at desired locations along the guide member 11. Similarly, the second drive member 162 b moves the second clamping member 13 along the guide member 11 to position the clamping pins 122 thereof at desired locations along the guide member 11.

The motor 161 can be a servo motor having a first drive shaft 161 a attached to a middle portion of the guide member 11. The first drive shaft 161 a is coupled to one gear 163 and a drive sprocket 161 b arranged at two opposite sides of the guide member 11. The other gear 163 is coupled to a second drive shaft 164 a attached to the guide member 11 adjacent to the first drive shaft 161 a. The second drive shaft 164 a has a second drive sprocket 164 b attached to a opposite side thereof to the gears 163.

The first drive assembly 16 further includes a first passive shaft 165 a attached to the first end portion 110, and a second passive shaft 166 a attached to the second end portion 120. The first passive shaft 165 a has a first passive sprocket (not shown) coupled thereto. The second passive shaft 166 a has a second passive sprocket 166 b coupled thereto. The first drive member 162 a is coupled to the first drive sprocket 161 b and the first passive sprocket and extends along the guide member 11. The second drive member 162 b is coupled to the second passive shaft 164 b and the second passive sprocket 166 b and extends along the guide member 11.

Each of the first drive sprocket 161 b, the first passive sprocket 165 b, the second drive sprocket 164 b, and the second passive sprocket 166 b can selectively be a gear, a pulley, or other similar mechanisms. The first drive member 162 a may be a belt, such as a timing belt with transverse grooves (not shown) arranged along the back side thereof to engage with the first drive sprocket 161 b and the first passive sprocket. Similarly, the second drive member 162 b may also be a timing belt with transverse grooves (not shown) arranged along the back side thereof to engage with the second drive sprocket 164 b and the second passive sprocket 166 b. In alternative embodiments, the first and second drive members 162 a, 162 b can also be regular drive members without the transverse grooves, or they can be chains. To couple the first clamping member 12 to the first drive member 162 a, an upper portion of the first drive member 162 a is fixedly attached to the fixing portion 120 c of the first clamping member 12. Similarly, an upper portion of the second drive member 162 b is fixedly attached to the fixing portion 120 c of the second clamping member 13 to couple the second clamping member 13 to the second drive member 162 b.

In operation, the first and the second drive members 162 a, 162 b move the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 towards or away from one another along the guide member 11. To move the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 toward one another, the motor 161 rotates the gear 163 attached to the first drive shaft 161 a and the first drive sprocket 161 b clockwise (from the perspective of FIG. 2). The clockwise rotation of the first drive sprocket 161 b moves the upper portion of the first drive member 162 a towards the middle portion of the guide member 11. The first drive member 162 a accordingly moves the first clamping member 12 along the guide member 11 toward the middle portion of the guide member 11. Because the gears 163 are in engagement with one another, a clockwise rotation of the gear 163 coupled to the first drive shaft 161 a rotates the other gear 163 coupled to the second drive shaft 164 a, as well as the second drive sprocket 164 b, counter-clockwise. The second drive sprocket 164 b then moves the upper portion of the second drive member 162 b towards the middle portion of the guide member 11. The second drive member 162 b accordingly moves the second clamping member 13 along the guide member 11 toward the middle portion of the guide member 11. Conversely, to move the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 away from one another, the motor 161 rotates the first drive sprocket 161 b in the counter-clockwise direction. The counter-clockwise movement of the first drive sprocket 161 b moves the first drive member 162 a and the first clamping member 12 coupled thereto away from the middle portion of the guide member 11. The second drive sprocket 164 b rotates clockwise to move the second drive member 162 b and the second clamping member 13 coupled thereto away from the middle portion of the guide member 11.

In clamping a substrate (not shown), such as a flat panel display substrate, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 are moved toward one another, with the substrate arranged therebetween. The first and the second clamping members 12, 13 clamp the substrate at two peripheral sides thereof using the clamping pins 122. Once the substrate is clamped, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 each move to a predetermined location along the guide member 11. A gap between the two predetermined locations has a same width as a distance between the two opposite peripheral sides of the substrate. Thus, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 clamp the substrate, as well as position the substrate. It is understood, when the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 move away from one another, the clamping pins 122 disengage from the substrate.

The clamping apparatus 100 can further include a first block 171 and a second block 172 for preventing the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 from sliding out of the guide member 11, and a first locking screw (not shown) and a second locking screw 18 for adjusting tensions of the first and the second drive members 162 a, 162 b. The first block 171 is attached to the first end portion 110 at an edge thereof, and the second block 172 is attached to the second end portion 112 at an edge thereof. The first locking screw is coupled to the first passive shaft 165 a, and the second locking screw 18 is coupled to the second passive shaft 166 a. In a typical application, by turning the second locking screw 18 clockwise or counter-clockwise to move the second passive shaft 166 a back and forth along the guide member 11, a tension of the second drive member 162 b is adjusted as desired. It is noted, that the first locking screw operates in a manner similar to that the second locking screw 18.

One advantage of the clamping apparatus 100 is that the clamping apparatus 100 has a compact structure because of using only one motor 161 to serve as an actuator. This advantage is achieved by transmitting power from the motor 161 to the first clamping member 12, and by using the pair of gears 163 to transmit power from the motor 161 to the second clamping member 13.

It should be noted that the clamping apparatus 100 is not limited to have the above-mentioned first embodiment, the clamping apparatus described in below embodiments, are acceptable as well.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a clamping apparatus 200, in accordance with a second embodiment is shown. The clamping apparatus 200 includes a guide member 11 extending in a direction Y, a first clamping member 12 and a second clamping member 13 each slidably attached to the guide member 11, and a first drive assembly 16 as well as a second elongated guide member 21 extending in a direction X associated with a third clamping member 22, a fourth clamping member 23, and a second drive assembly 26. It is noted, that the guide member 11, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13, and the first drive assembly 16 of the clamping apparatus 200 is the same as that of the clamping apparatus 100. Thus no details are provided to illustrate the guide member 11, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13, and the first drive assembly 16 in the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, the second guide member 21 is similar to the guide member 11, and is arranged above and perpendicular to the guide member 11. The second drive assembly 26 is similar to the first drive assembly 16, except that a third drive member 262 c is further provided. Accordingly, the third clamping member 22 is coupled to the first drive member 262 a, and the fourth clamping member 23 is coupled to the third drive member 262 c. In particular, another passive shaft 267 a is provided around a second drive shaft 264 a and a second passive shaft 266 a, and two opposite ends of the another passive shaft 267 a are coupled to two third passive sprockets 267 b. A second drive member 262 b is coupled to a second drive sprocket 264 b and one of the third passive sprockets 267 b, and is configured for translating rotation of the second drive sprocket 264 b to the two third passive sprockets 267 b. The third drive member 262 c extends along the second guide member 21 at an opposite side of the second drive member 262 b to the first drive member 262 a, and is coupled to the other of the third passive sprockets 267 b and the second sprocket shaft 266 b. In a typical application of the third drive member 262 c, the third passive sprocket 267 b moves the upper portion of the third drive member 262 c along the second guide member 21. Thus the third drive member 262 c accordingly moves the corresponding fourth clamping member 22 along the second guide member 21.

Referring to FIG. 5, the third clamping member 22 has the same structure as the fourth clamping member 23. Thus, only the fourth clamping members 23 is described herein with the understanding that like reference numbers refer to like parts in the third clamping member 22. The fourth clamping members 23 of FIG. 5 is similar to the first clamping member 12 of FIG. 2, except that the fourth clamping member 23 further includes an actuator 228 arranged between a supporting plate 226 and a stage 220 b of a bracket 220 for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin 222 on the supporting plate 226. The actuator 228 is generally a pneumatic cylinder, or the actuator 228 can be a hydraulic cylinder, an electric actuator or another type of actuator.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary application of the clamping apparatus 200. The clamping apparatus 200 is disposed at a station 30 on a conveyor 300. A substrate 40 having two opposite first peripheral sides 402 and two opposite second peripheral sides 404 is transported by a plurality of rollers 50 in a direction parallel with the second guide member 21 and at an elevation higher with respect to the clamping pins 122. Before the substrate 40 is transported above the guide member 11 and the second guide member 21, the actuator 228 lowers the clamping pins 222 downwards until the clamping pins 222 are below the height of the clamping pins 122. Thus the substrate 40 arrives on the guide member 11 and the second guide member 21 without the blocking effect of the clamping pins 222. Once the substrate 40 arrives on the guide member 11 and the second guide member 21, the actuator 228 raises the clamping pins 222 upwards until the clamping pins 222 are at the same elevation as the clamping pins 122. Then the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 move the clamping pins 122 towards one another to clamp the two first peripheral sides 402 of the substrate 40, and the third and fourth clamping members 22, 23 move the clamping pins 222 towards one another to clamp the two second peripheral sides 404 of the substrate 40.

One aspect of the clamping apparatus 200 that makes it operate in an effective way is that the clamping apparatus 200 clamps the substrate 40 at four sides thereof. Thus the clamping apparatus 200 clamps the substrate 40 firmly.

In the second embodiment, the first peripheral side 402 of the substrate 40 is longer than the second peripheral side 404 thereof. Thus a length of the second guide member 22 is desired to be longer than that of the guide member 11. The longer guide member 21 allows the third and the fourth clamping members 22, 23 moving thereon to be spaced from each other with a gap therebetween as wide as the distance between the first peripheral sides 402. One purpose of the third drive member 262 c in the second embodiment is to move the fourth clamping member 23 to a position at an extension direction of the second drive member 262 b according to the length of the guide member 21. It is understood, there may be additional drive members provided to further couple to the third drive member 262 c and move the fourth clamping member 23, to accommodate longer first peripheral sides 402 and guide members 21 in alternative embodiments.

It is believed that the exemplary embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. 

1. A clamping apparatus, comprising: a first elongated guide member; a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; and a first drive assembly comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, a first gear coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; a second gear meshed with the first gear, the second gear having a second drive shaft attached to the first guide member; a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the first clamping member, and a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft and the second clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the second clamping member through the first and second gears, and the first and the second drive member configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member.
 2. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first passive shaft attached to a first end of the first guide member distal from the second drive shaft; a second passive shaft attached to an opposite second end of the first guide member distal from the first drive shaft; wherein the first drive member comprises a first belt extending around the first drive shaft and the first passive shaft along the first guide member, with the first clamping member being fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive member comprises a second belt extending around the second drive shaft and the second passive shaft along the first guide member, with the second clamping member being fixedly attached to the second belt.
 3. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second drive members each comprises a belt.
 4. The clamping apparatus of claim 3, wherein each belt comprises a timing belt.
 5. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a servo motor.
 6. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first locking screw coupled to the first passive shaft for adjusting a tension of the first belt. a second locking screw coupled to the second passive shaft for adjusting a tension of the second belt.
 7. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the first and the second clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the guide member; and at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.
 8. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first block attached to a first end of the guide member adjacent to the first drive member for preventing the first clamping member from moving out of the first guide member; and a second block attached to an opposite second end of the guide member adjacent to the second drive member for preventing the second clamping member from moving out of the first guide member.
 9. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second elongated guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the first elongated guide member; a third clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; a fourth clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; and a second drive assembly comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the second guide member, a third gear coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; a fourth gear meshed with the third gear, the fourth gear having a second drive shaft attached to the second guide member; a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the third clamping member to transmitting power from the motor of the second drive assembly to the third clamping member, and a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a third drive member coupled to the second drive member and the fourth clamping member to transmitting power from the motor and the third and fourth the gears of the second drive assembly through the second drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping member, the first and the third drive member configured for moving the corresponding third clamping member and the corresponding fourth clamping member towards or away from one another along the second guide member.
 10. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passive shaft attached to the second guide member, and the third drive member being coupled to the second drive member through the passive shaft.
 11. The clamping apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a first passive shaft attached to a first end of the second guide member distal from the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a second passive shaft attached to an opposite second end of the second guide member distal from the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly; wherein the first drive member of the second drive assembly comprises a first belt extending around the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the first passive shaft along the second guide member, with the third clamping member being fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive member of the second drive assembly comprises a second belt extending around the second drive shaft and the passive shaft along the second guide member, and the third drive member comprises a third belt extending around the passive shaft and the second passive shaft along the second guide member, with the fourth clamping member being fixedly attached to the third belt.
 12. The clamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first, the second and the second drive members each comprises a belt.
 13. The clamping apparatus of claim 12, wherein each belt comprises a timing belt.
 14. The clamping apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the second guide member; and at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.
 15. The clamping apparatus of claim 14, wherein the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin.
 16. The clamping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.
 17. A clamping apparatus, comprising: a first elongated guide member; a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; and a first drive assembly comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, a pair of gears engaged with one another with one of the gears coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor and the other of the gears having a second drive shaft attached to the guide member adjacent to the first drive shaft; a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the first clamping member, and a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft and the second clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the second clamping member through the pair of the gears, and the first and the second drive member configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member; and a second elongated guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the first elongated guide member; a third clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; a fourth clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; and a second drive assembly comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the second guide member, a pair of gears engaged with one another with one of the gears coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor and the other of the gears having a second drive shaft attached to the second guide member; a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the third clamping member to transmitting power from the motor of the second drive assembly to the third clamping member, and a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a third drive member coupled to the second drive member and the fourth clamping member to transmitting power from the motor and the pair of the gears of the second drive assembly through the second drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping member, and the first and the third drive member configured for moving the corresponding third clamping member and the corresponding fourth clamping member towards or away from one another along the second guide member.
 18. The clamping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first, the second and the second drive members each comprises a belt.
 19. The clamping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the second guide member; and at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.
 20. The clamping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin. 